CLUB legend Michael O'Loughlin has challenged Kurt Tippett to earn the trust of the Swans players, saying it will make or break him.

Tippett is poised to get his wish to join Sydney at next Tuesday's AFL pre-season draft after GWS dropped out of the running for the services of the key forward yesterday.

O'Loughlin said Tippett could be a "fantastic" pick-up but he would have to prove himself all over again in the harbour city.

He said the club's famous "Bloods culture" would mean Tippett, who will arrive on a four-year deal worth $3.55 million, would start from scratch in the eyes of the Swans players and only earn their respect by the way he behaves and performs on and off the field.

O'Loughlin said Tippett's hefty price tag would concern the Sydney players a lot less than his character.

"The thing with the Swans footy club is that you either buy into the culture or you're on the outer," said O'Loughlin, who kicked 521 goals in 303 games for the club from 1995-2009.

"That's what they are concerned about and there are no in-betweens.

"It's really that simple and it's in the hands of the player to either want to do it or fall by the wayside.

"The culture is that strong there that no player, no matter how highly or lowly he is rated, can influence it.

"Kurt will have to make every post a winner from the moment he walks in because the work he's going to have to do to prove himself will be bloody difficult.

"He will have to earn the respect of his new teammates by his actions.

"But that's a good thing because that's the strength of the footy club."

The Swans have got a ripping culture and it could be the making of him

O'Loughlin said he would make no judgment about Tippett - a villain at Adelaide after walking out on the club and becoming embroiled in a contract scandal - until he arrives at the Swans.

He said he had followed the Tippett/Crows saga in the newspapers but had never met the 25-year-old.

"I can't talk about him, the man, because I don't know him, but Kurt needs to know what's in store for him in Sydney if he does end up there," O'Loughlin said.

"The Swans have got a ripping culture and it could be the making of him, but we've also seen players buy their way out of the club because they haven't embraced it.

"I'm talking about the Nick Davises and Barry Halls of the world, who were there and then gone and I'm sure if they had their time again they would probably do things differently.

"Just because you are there it doesn't mean you are there forever.

"You've got to earn that trust and respect of your teammates and coaching staff because it is a unique environment.

"You can buy yourself into the culture by being prepared to do the right things. But if you don't, then you don't play, it's as simple as that."

Tippett will miss the first 11 games of next season for his role in salary cap breaches and draft tampering.

He has nominated for Tuesday's pre-season draft and set down financial terms, which only the Swans and Giants could afford. But GWS officially withdrew from the Tippett chase yesterday, with chief executive David Matthews saying his asking price was too high and it wouldn't be prudent for the fledgling club to sign him.

"Internally, we established a value for Kurt Tippett based on his capabilities and whilst we were hopeful, his terms submitted this week confirmed that we are simply not in a position to pay what he wants, particularly for a player who will miss most of the year through suspension," he said.

O'Loughlin said Tippett would greatly increase Sydney's firepower.

"He's a fantastic size (202cm, 104kg) and he'll certainly help take some of the pressure off young Sam Reid," he said.

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